Rose plant--Meicauf variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which abundantly and continuously forms attractive double blossoms which are turkey red on the upper surface and cardinal red on the under surface. Such blossoms are long lasting. The plant exhibits an erect growth habit, very vigorous vegetation, and is well suited for growing in parks and gardens. Additionally, the plant is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the product of the cross between the Queen Elizabeth variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,259) by the Karl Herbst variety (nonpatented inthe United States) to produce a plant which was crossed by the Meicesarvariety (nonpatented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., thepollen parent) was the product of a cross between the Meidanu variety(nonpatented in the United States) by the Meifan variety (nonpatented inthe United States). The parentage of the new variety can be summarizedas follows:

    [Queen Elizabeth×Karl Herbst)×Meicesar]×(meidanu×Meifan).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 68 smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms continuously and in abundance attractive long lasting doubleblossoms which are turkey red on the upper surface and cardinal red onthe under surface,

(b) exhibits an erect growth habit,

(c) exhibits very vigorous vegetation,

(d) is particularly suited for growing in parks and gardens, and

(e) is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry forall uses and is particularly well suited for forming attractiveornamentation when grown outdoors.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by anumber of routes, including budding, grafting, cuttage, etc. Asexualreproduction by the above mentioned methods as performed in France showsthat the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissablefrom one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the Meicauf variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed during Junewhile budded on Rosa forebelli understock and growing outdoors atLeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4. illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of a blooming flower --plan view--obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of a blooming flower --plan view--reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop--plan view--obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower immediately priorto petal drop--plan view--reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets--planview--upper surface;

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets--planview--under surface; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets--planview--upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of two year old plants made during June while budded onRosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at leCannet des Maures,Var, France. The coloration in common terms precedes reference to thechart.

Class: Hybrid Tea.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 100 to 150 cm.

Habit.--Erect.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, yellow-Green Group 146C, more or lesssuffused with reddish coloration. Adult wood: medium green, Yellow-GreenGroup 146B.

Thorns.--Size: average. Quantity: fairly numerous. Color: reddish onyoung stems and greenish changing to tan on mature wood.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, wide and linear.

Petioles.--upper surface: striped reddish brown on young foliage andmedium green on adult foliage with more or less glandular edges. Undersurface; light green, smooth.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: oval. Serration:single and regular. Texture; consistent. General appearance: dense andsemi-mat foliage. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: light green,Yellow-Green Group 146C, very widely stained with reddish coloration.Under surface: reddish-brown. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: darkgreen, Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under surface: medium green,Yellow-Green Group 147B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--1 to 3 blooms per stem, usually 1 per stem.

Peduncle.--Straight, rigid, smooth, medium green in coloration, bears afew glandular acicules. The length is approximately 5.5 to 6 cm. onaverage.

Sepals.--Upper surface: greenish tomentose, widely stained withreddish-brown coloration. Under surface: medium green, more or lessstained with reddish-brown coloration, more or less glandular, the edgesof the outer sepals are more or less appendiculated.

Buds.--Shape: round with an elongated tip. Length: approximately 3 cm.on average. Size: large. Color upon opening: Upper surface: guardsmanred, Red Group 45A. Under surface: bright cardinal red, Red Group 53B.

Flower.--Shape: cup-like. Diameter: approximately 13 to 14 cm. onaverage. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: currant red, RedGroup 46B. Under surface: cardinal red, Red Group 53B. Color (whenblooming): Upper surface: turkey red, Red Group 46C. Under surface:cardinal red, Red Group 53B. Color (at end of opening): Upper surface:turkey red, Red Group 46B, more or less suffused with cardinal red, RedGroup 53B. Under surface: cardinal red, Red Group 53B. Fragrance: none.Lasting quality: long. Petal shape: the outer petals are rounded and theinner petals are oval and sometimes possess a whitish-pink center vein.Petal number: approximately 35 to 40 on average. Texture: consistent.Petal drop: good. Stamen number: approximately 62 on average. Anthers:normal and strawlike. Filaments: strawlike, tinted with light fuschia,of irregular heights. Pistils: approximately 53 on average. Stigmas:normal and strawlike. Styles: strawlike, more or less twisted, ofirregular heights. Receptacle: smooth, light green, in longitudinalsection it is in the shape of a pitcher.

Development:

Vegetation.--very vigorous.

Blooming.--continuous and abundant.

Aptitude to bear fruits.--average.

Resistance to frost.--good.

Resistance to diseases.--very good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formscontinuously and in abundance attractive long lasting double blossomswhich are turkey red on the upper surface and cardinal red on the undersurface, (b) exhibits an erect growth habit, (c) exhibits very vigorousvegetation, (d) is particularly suited for growing in parks and gardens,and (e) is not particularly affected by cryptogamicdiseases;substantially as herein shown and described.